The Springboks’ injury list has grown significantly after a difficult weekend of United Rugby Championship action, with several influential players hurt shortly before the end-of-year tour.
Sharks centre Andre Esterhuizen appeared to suffer a serious ankle injury during Friday’s match, creating another concern for coach Rassie Erasmus as he assesses his options for the end-of-year Tests.
The 32-year-old hybrid player joins an increasingly lengthy list of unavailable or doubtful players. Cheslin Kolbe has already been ruled out of the tour while recovering from a broken jaw, Stormers director of rugby John Dobson confirmed last week.
There are also doubts over Eben Etzebeth, while Frans Malherbe, Kwagga Smith and RG Snyman are sidelined.
The Stormers suffered further setbacks in a bruising match against the Scarlets on Saturday. Deon Fourie sustained a hamstring injury and Andre-Hugo Venter suffered an elbow problem.
Fourie had been expected to be part of the Springboks squad when the Nations Championship concludes in November, but he now faces a period out of action.
Springboks flyhalf Handre Pollard also left the field during the second half of the Bulls’ match after suffering a hamstring injury.
Bulls coach Johan Ackermann said the number of injuries had been unusual.
“It’s been a while since we had so many casualties,” he said.
The Stormers were also dealing with the consequences of their physical contest, according to Dobson.
“The mouth guards (that detect head knocks) were going like pinball. It was ping, ping!” he told the media. “I was reading through my contingency sheet. If you lose both hookers, there’s a plan, but I never thought about three.
“To lose three hookers takes away all our set-pieces. So it is a crisis.”
The injuries to Fourie and Venter left the Stormers facing particular problems at hooker, while Esterhuizen’s ankle injury added to the selection pressure facing Erasmus ahead of the Springboks’ tour.
With Kolbe unavailable, Etzebeth’s status uncertain and several other established players already sidelined, the latest round of injuries has further complicated preparations for the end-of-year Tests.
